Claiming Consumer Raw Milk Rights

2nd Annual International Raw Milk Symposium

This year’s International Raw Milk Symposium, sponsored by the Farm-to-Consumer Foundation was double the size of the one held last year in Toronto which drew a crowd of 125. This year, 256 people, representing 28 states and 4 nations, participated.

The day before the conference I toured two dairy farms, one, a conventional factory farm, the other a Joel Salatin inspired, bio-diverse pasture based farm. Both were family run operations, yet the contrast between the two was dramatic.

The first had 1400 cows under roof, on concrete, being fed dead feed while the luscious spring grasses were in full flower all around the barns. The farm had manure management issues, having to haul away manure to have it composted and manure solids brought back as bedding material. The stench in the barns was overwhelming. The farmer expressed many frustrations about the challenges he faced, and the continual pressure to get bigger, to do more.

Cows Raised on Green Pasture

The second, 24 dairy cows and 51 steers and calves were living life on pasture, with richly mineralized soil and a wide variety of pasture grasses to munch on. There was no odor, the manure was deposited on the fields by the livestock, a natural soil fertilizer. The second farmer was enthusiastic and passionate about his animals, they each had names and he knew their personalities. Each bovine was treasured and loved for their unique purpose on the farm.

This second farm has been denied the right to sell his milk by state ag officials. His naturally raised product effectively condemned. Farmer number one has no troubles with the state, but he has his own struggles contending with the burdens of the industrial scale his farm has become.

Both farmers, by the way, enjoy drinking their own unprocessed milk.

“We are at war, a war over food rights”, said Michael Schmidt, in his speech during the conference, which many described as Ghandi-esque.

Tim Wightman, President of Farm-to-Consumer Foundation

The theme of this years event was Claiming Consumer Rights. Tim Wightman, President of the Farm-to- Consumer Foundation, pointed out at the start of the day, that, “The consumer is now an integral part of the farm. There is no ‘I am just a consumer, I am just a farmer.’  There is justice in this room because you decided to exercise your rights and move forward.”

I was struck by the credentials of two other farmers whose story kicked off the symposium. Currently suing  state officials to keep them from taking action against their farm store, Wayne and Kay Craig, both have dairy science degrees, and Kay has a food science degree. Raw milk has been available to the farm store shareholders since 2005, operating within the laws and administrative rulings by the state. And yet, suddenly, the state is refusing to renew their permit because they are selling raw milk.

Wayne and Kay spoke to the audience about how they raise Jersey cows, chickens, turkeys, geese on 247 acres. They mimic natural systems, and let the animals do what comes naturally. They move them to new pastures up to 4 times a day. They minimize inputs and work with nature to produce their products.

Kay Craig (on cell), Wayne Craig, Rudy Craig (in milk hat)

Emily Matthews, R.N. testified to the fact that consumers choosing to support farms such as these, are educated, and they know what they are doing. “We are not ignorant people who need to be protected from ourselves.” She went on to tell of two sick people whom doctors had given up on. They were healed by raw milk.

Ted Beals, M.D. and the former head of a pathology lab spoke of the tactics being used by opponents of farm fresh milk. “Fear is a successful strategy of opponents of quality raw milk. Fear that producing and selling raw milk will put you out of business.”

Sally Fallon Morell and a German scientist, Dr. Ton Baars presented the science which supports the nutritional advantages of unprocessed milk from traditional dairying operations, where the cows are fed on pasture with rich soils.

Sylvia Onusic, PhD presents the European Perspective on Raw Milk

The highlight of the day, was the report from Sylvia Onusic, PhD, on raw milk in Europe. Participants gasped audibly as Sylvia showed beautiful slides of Slovenian cows on pasture and the Slovenian, and Italian milk-o-matic machines which bring raw milk directly to the consumer from pasture-based farms. The ease of availabilty and the respect for food traditions were striking in contrast to the oppression of the same here in the states.

While over 100 public officials were invited to the raw milk symposium, none to our knowledge, showed. Yet, the grand opening of a fresh milk machine in Slovenia’s capital city brings out the top ag official and mayor of the city.

The raw milk symposium and the theme of my trip to Wisconsin could easily be summed up in Mark McAfee’s video, “The Two Raw Milks in America”.

See the fantastic media coverage and a You Tube Video highlights on the symposium, Media Coverage of the Raw Milk Symposium.

Kimberly Hartke served as the publicist for this event. She is a Weston A. Price member, volunteer chapter leader and handles media relations for the Weston A. Price Foundation. After extensive personal research, she now drinks raw milk and believes it should be an option for educated consumers, everywhere.